By Josh White
Of the 18.2 million veterans currently residing in the U.S., around 621,000 receive disability insurance or pension payments. Sadly, veterans with disabilities are disproportionately more vulnerable to the current impact of COVID-19. The pandemic creates a set of unique challenges to these veterans, including the fact that a majority now face a dire financial situation due to lost income. This has already led to increased homelessness and all the related mental, physical, and emotional problems that come with housing insecurity. To amend this problem, many veterans are seeking available jobs to regain lost income and to utilize their unique skillsets in an American workforce in dire need of productive workers.
Now more than ever, it’s crucial that commercial contracting businesses that can hire and are looking for hard-working, motivated, and ethical employees, consider hiring veterans. It can be difficult for employers to recognize the invaluable experience and transferable skills veterans acquire during their time of military service. This creates a deep knowledge gap between veterans entering the workforce and employers searching for top talent.
If your commercial contracting company is looking for new employees, now or in the future, consider these four benefits to hiring veterans.
1. HEIGHTENED HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES
The global pandemic has turned the world upside down, with companies across the world heightening their health and safety procedures to maintain a safe environment for all. While in the military, veterans were taught to learn and follow strict safety and health protocols for both the welfare of team members and themselves. The rules and regulations set in place in the military becomes second nature, with veterans easily adapting to new guidelines as they arise, since they are highly aware of any dangers that can happen in an environment. In short, veterans are trained to protect and care for the safety of their employees, property, and materials.
2. TRAINABLE, ADAPTABLE, DETERMINED
Veterans continuously learn, develop, and grow from day one. As situations can change rapidly and without notice, members master adaptability and learn to improvise as their specific roles can be affected day to day. Adaptable and capable, veterans are flexible on picking up new tasks with short notice. Not to mention that veterans are persistent and determined, sticking with a problem or solution until results are achieved. An ongoing focus on development not only proves successful for the individual, but for their team, and their organization as well.
3. EXPERIENCE WORKING IN TEAMS AND IN A DIVERSE GROUP
From the moment they enter service, military veterans are taught that genuine teamwork derives from a responsibility to one’s peers. Being an ultimate team player is not taken lightly, as members must learn to think in terms of the greater good of the team and what they can do to improve, grow, and strengthen it. A blend of individual and group responsibilities allows veterans to work side-by-side successfully with teammates of all backgrounds—regardless of gender, race, religion, economic status, or geographic origin. As much of the job force is done with a team in a diverse workspace, veterans are already ahead of the curve.
4. SERVANT LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY
When military personnel enter into the service, the majority of whom have just reached adulthood, they quickly learn the skills to be a good follower, and obtain the experience to become a great leader. Through training, education, and experiences, veterans take on a variety of roles and responsibilities. In the face of ever-changing and unpredictable situations, veterans are required to make quick and smart decisions as leaders, a parallel that translates to the fast-paced work environment. Additionally, veterans have an innate, conscientious obligation to serve others. It’s this servant leadership philosophy that allows veterans to be selfless, putting the needs of teams first, and acting towards improving the organization, rather than only themselves.
CLOSING THOUGHT
Veterans can bring a wide array of unique traits that transfer directly from the military world to the contracting world. In a time where so much is uncertain, your commercial contracting company can be confident in knowing that hiring veterans is not only a good idea, but good business.
About the author:
A disabled veteran from Indianapolis, Indiana, Josh White has served as the president of Hoosier Contractors since 2013. Hoosier Contractors is a locally owned and operated residential and commercial contracting business serving the greater Indianapolis area. Using a customer-first approach to build business, Hoosier Contractors’ services include roof repair and replacement, gutters, siding, painting, home construction and more. Hoosier Contractors is part of the National Roofing Contractor Association and accredited by the Better Business Bureau. For more, visit www.hoosierroof.com.
Modern Contractor Solutions, November 2020
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